why do we go to school obama speech

By Cynthia McCabe When President Barack Obama took the podium late last week at the NAACPБs centennial convention in New York, he turned it into something of a pulpit to preach the importance of parents taking responsibility for their children, especially when it came to involvement in their education. Parents must encourage their children to be something other than the next Lebron James or LilБ Wayne, he said, referencing the popular basketball player and rapper. БParents, we canБt tell our kids to do well in school and fail to support them when they get home. For our kids to excel, we must accept our own responsibilities. That means putting away the Xbox and putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour. It means attending those parent-teacher conferences, reading to our kids, and helping them with their homework. Б
That advice-meets-admonishment garnered thunderous applause from the largely Black audience in New York.

His impassioned speech also caught the attention of educators across the country, who were grateful to hear a politician call for support from the community for the work they do for high-needs students, rather than blame them when those students donБt succeed. БI have always said that, although we as a community should help out, it always starts at home; for parents are their children's first teachers! Б said Fedricka M. , a high school science teacher in Chamblee, Georgia, in an NEA Today Facebook discussion on the speech. Jocelyn Conrad, a second-grade teacher in Colorado agreed. БIt isn't up to just us teachers to educate children but parents and communities as well. Just like he said! I'm on summer break but that made me want to get back to school to see my kids ASAP! Б The necessity of a great public education resounded powered much of ObamaБs message, as he pointed to the role of the schoolhouse in the civil rights movement, from Brown v.

Board of Education to the Little Rock Nine. БThere is no stronger weapon against inequality and no better path to opportunity than an education that can unlock a childБs God-given potential,Б Obama said. Touting the importance of 21st Century Skills, he called a Бworld-class educationБ a pre-requisite for success. Yet achievement gaps between Black and White students persist, and dropout rates among Black students top 50 percent in some parts of the country, he said, adding that there are too many crowded classrooms and decrepit facilities plague many poor school districts. БItБs wonderful to know that we have a president that echoes the values of education that many dedicated teachers hold,Б said Leah Henry, a teacher in Greenville, South Carolina. to watch ObamaБs speech in full.

To see what educators are saying about the speech,. Her biggest fan! President Barack Obama took to Twitter to praise Michelle Obama s, reminding the world they re the cutest couple ever. Just minutes after his wife gave a riveting speech to the crowd at Philadelphia s Wells Fargo Center, he summed up his feelings in 140 perfect characters. Incredible speech by an incredible woman, POTUS on Monday, July 25. Couldn t be more proud our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS. I love you, Michelle. Barack with Michelle Obama. The first lady s speech, which headlined Monday s United Together theme of putting the future of American families first, quickly went viral for its focus on love and family. In a tearjerker moment, she said, I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my two black daughters playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.

Because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States. The lawyer gave Clinton a rousing endorsement, saying, I m with her, before thanking the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee for having the guts and grace to keep coming back to put those cracks in the glass ceiling. Barack Obama kisses Michelle Obama. She shared another touching story about bringing up Malia, 18, and Sasha, 15, in the public eye and recalled the first day she sent them off to school in 2009 after the Obamas moved into the White House. I will never forget that winter morning as I watched our girls, just 7 and 10 years old, pile into those black SUVs with all those big men with guns.

And I saw their little faces pressed up against the window, and the only thing I could think was, What have we done? FLOTUS said that she had to teach them to ignore the intense scrutiny and criticism the family faced. This is what Barack and I think about every day as we try to guide and protect our girls through the challenges of this unusual life in the spotlight, she said. How we explain that when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don t stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high. The commander in chief is scheduled to give his own address at the DNC on Wednesday, July 27. this week include Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. Watch continued coverage of the DNC via or on C-SPAN. Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics and more delivered straight to your inbox!